Centrifugal drying-machine



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Patentfdupe 24, 1890.

A. P. DOREMUVS. GBNTRIPUGAL DRYING MACHINE.

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GENTRIFUGAL DRYING MACHINE.

Patented June 24, 1890.

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A. F. DOREMUS.

GBNTRIFUGAL DRYING MACHINE.

Patented June 24, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM F. DOREMUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CENTRIFUGAL DRYlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,632, dated J' une24, 1890.

Application tiled .T tummy Z2, 1889- Serial No. 297,114. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM F. DOREMUS, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use- `fulImprovements in Centrifugal Drying-Ma chines; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus for drying clothing andother articles or substances wherein the free water is abstracted fromthe articles by the use of a centrifugal machine, and moisture isfurther removed therefrom by the employment of a blast of air whichpasses through the article while within the centrifugal machine orextractor.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan section thereof, taken uponline 2 2 of Fig. l.I Fig. 3 is a detail section thereof, taken upon line3 3 of Fig. Fig. et is a detail vertical section showing a hollowsupporting-shaft. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same, taken upon line5 5 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections showing other forms ofthe apparatus. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the part shown in Fig. 7.Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View showing another form of the apparatus.

As shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, A is the external stationary casing of acentrifugal machine, said casing being supported by means of standards AA from a horizontal bedplate or base A2.

B is the revolving perforated basket of the extractor, which is locatedwithin the casing A in the usual manner and sustained upon a centralspindle C, which is supported at its lower end in a bearing C upon thebase A2. Said spindle is herein shown as mounted at its lower end in abox or brass c, the lower end of which is provided with a sphericalenlargement c', which engages a socket formed between the two boxes c2and c3 of the stationary part of the bearing C. This construction in thebea-ring affords free movement of the upper end of the shaft C and thebasket, so as to enable the latter to turn about the center of gravityof the basket and load therein, as is common in similar machines asheretofore made.

C2 is a drive-pulley secured to the shaft C and extending over thebearing C in a manner heretofore common and well known. The bottom B ofthe basket B, instead of being attached directly to the shaft C, asusual heretofore, is connected with a short vertical tube B2, which ismade considerably larger than the exterior of the shaft, and issustained from the latter by means of radial arms l), which are attachedto a central hub b', secured upon the shaft. The bottom B of the basketis made double, of two pieces of sheet metal, in a manner heretoforecommon, the inner margins of the upper and lower parts of the bottombeing bolted or riveted to flanges upon the tube B2 in the mannerillustrated.

B3 is a hollow perforated cone fitted or s ecured at its lower edges tothe tube B2 and engaged at its upper end with the upper end of the shaftC,whicl1 latter extends nearly to the top of the basket.

D is a concave plate or disk, which is placed within the central openingat the top of the basket for the purpose of closing the same, said diskbeing held in place by engagement with the upper end of the shaft C,which latter is inserted through the disk and is provided with a nut b2,by which the disk is clamped against the upper end of thecone B3.

E is a stationary tube surrounding the shaft C above the pulley C2. Said'tube E is closed at its lower end by means of a wall c, which isprovided with a central aperture,

through which the shaft C passes and within Y IOO struction illustratedthe rods F are provided at their inner ends with spherical heads f,which engage sockets e', formed in the sides of the tubular casing E. Asa convenient construction in the casing, the latter is dividedhorizontally into two parts in a plane passing through ,the sockets andis held together by bolts passing through lugs e2 e2, located betweenthe sockets in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The springs F F are herein shown as located within horizontally-arrangedcylinders F2 F2, through the inner ends of which the rods F pass, saidsprings being located between the said inner ends of the cylinders andnuts or `heads j" f upon the outer ends of said rods F. Said cylindersare connected with the machine-casing A by means of horizontal pivots f2f2, which allowr the cylinders to swing in vertical planes as the rods FF are moved therein.

At its lower end the tubular casing E is connected with a flexibleair-pipe G, which communicates with a source or means for supplying airunder pressure, said pipe being made flexible to allow free movement ofthe Said tubular casing,

vided with an outwardlyopening' springva-lve H and an inwardly -openingspringvalve I.

J is a centrally-apertured disk located within the central aperture inthe bottom of thev casing A between the inner margin of said casing andthe tubular casing E, said disk being for the purpose of closing thespace between said parts. The disk J isherein shown as made of aiiexible material like leather or rubber; but it may be otherwiseconstructed, as may be found preferable or desirable.

The operation of the machine described in extracting the freewaterfromclothing or other articles placed inthe basket B is the same as that ofother similar machines, water contained Within the clothing, beingthrown outwardly by centrifugal action through the perforations of thebasket into the outer casing A, from which it escapes through adischargepipe A3. After the free water has been separated from theclothing, or while such separation is taking place, air under pressureis allowed to flow from the pipe G into the interior of the basket,which it enters through the perforations in the cone B3.

disk D, the air thus introduced under pressure will be forced outwardlythrough the perforations in the sides of the basketand through theclothing, which is held against the said sides by centrifugal action. Bypassing of air through the clothing in this manner the clothes may bedried to any extent desired by subjecting them to the action of theair-blast for a necessary length of time. Hot air will preferably beused to facilitate the rapid drying of thev clothes. The air issuing Theupper opening of the basket being closed by thefrom the interior of thebasketniay make its escape through the exit-pipe A3, or through theannular space between the upper edge of the basket and the margin of thestationary casing A. In the use of a very hot blast, however, themoisture in the clothing is likely to be converted into steam, whichwould thus be caused to escape in large quantities from the apparatus.In cases in which the air and steam are allowed to pass outwardlythrough the annular space between thebasket and casing at the top of thelatter in this manner I preferably place over the machine a hoodcommunicating with an exit-flue, in order to carry away the steam andavoid its presence in the apartments in which the machine is placed. Asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, however, the standards A A aremade tubular and open through the lsteamrmay be carried away ordischarged through said pipes. When the air is discharged in thismanner, however, I provide means for yclosing the space between the topof the basket and the top margin of the casing A, one form of which isherein illustrated in Fig. l, and is constructed as follows: K is a ringof wood or metal secured to the inner surface of the outer casing A overthe top of v the basket, and K is a second ring located below the ring Kand connected with the latter by means of metal springs k of U shape orother equivalent form, adapted to allow the said ring K to yield freelyin a vertical direction. 7c vis a piece or strip of iiexible material,which is secured to rings K and K',

4and is made of such width as to allow the lower ring K to bear againstthe upper wall b3 of the basket B. Said upper wall of the basket is madein the form of a spherical segment, the radius of which is equal to thedistance from the said wall to the center of movement of the basket andshaft, so that as the basket moves laterally the lower bearing-ring Kwill rest against the basket with uniform pressure in all its parts. Itfollows from this construction that the bearingrin g K will always runsmoothly and in close contact with the upper wall of the basket whateverbe the angular position of the central shaft. The springs k 7c,which-support .the ring K are so adjusted as to press the latter with aslight or gentle pressure against the top wall of the basket and withsufficient pressure to prevent any considerable escape of air betweenthe basket and the ring.

The purpose of the inwardly-opening valve I in thetubular casing E is toprevent formation of a vacuum within the basket or communicating partssuchas might be produced by the centrifugal action of therapidly-revolving basket in case the influx of air through the tube Gwere cut off by the valve controlling the tube. The purpose v of theoutwardly-opening valve H in said casing E IOO IIO

is to prevent undue pressure upon the wall of the basket such as mightburst the basket, and which might be produced by too great air-pressurewithin the basket combined with the outward pressure produced by thecentrifugal action of the load carried thereby.

It is entirely obvious that the air-blast for drying the clothing' maybe introduced into the basketpat the center of devices 'equivalent tothose described, but differing materially therefrom in mechanicalconstruction. I have shown, for instance, in Figs. 4 and 5 aconstruction wherein the shaft which su pports the basket is madetubular. In this instance B is the basket, and L a shaft for supportingthe same, which is made somewhat larger than usual and hollow in itspart above the belt-pulley. Said shaft is provided with a plurality ofair-inlet ports Z Z and passes through a stationary tubular casing M,with one side of which is connected a flexible airduct G. The casing Mis fitted closely to the shaft above the ports Z Z in the mannerillustrated, so that air forced into the casing M is caused to passthrough said ports into the hollow shaft. At its upper end the saidshaft communicates with the interior of the basket by means of aperforated cone B3, arranged in the same manner as hereinbeforedescribed. In Figs. b' and 7 I have shown a somewhat different form ofthe apparatus embodying the mainfeatures of my invention, wherein airunder pressure is introduced through the opening in the top of therevolving basket instead of through the bottom thereof, In said Fig. 6,A is the external casing of the niachine, and B the basket, which latteris supported and constructed in a manner heretofore common and wellknown. O is an air-pipe supplying hot air under pressure and arrangedvertically over the center of the machine and opening downward, and O isa movable tubular extension or sleeve fitted to slide vertically on thepipe O and adapted to be joined at its lower edge with the upper marginof the basket B. Said tubular extension or sleeve O is shown in thedrawings as made of conical form and about the same diameter at itslower margin as the margin of the opening in the top of the basket. O2is a verticallymovable ring adapted to rest upon the top surface of thebasket beneath the lower edge of the extension O', said ring O2 having asmooth surface accurately fitted to the top surface of the basket,whichslatter is made of spherical form, in the same manner as beforetubular extension, but at the same time allowing the ring to move oryield freely in a vertical direction. The tension of the springs o o issuch as to press the ring O2 against the basket with sufficient force toform an airtight j oint,while avoiding undue friction, and, the uppersurface of the basket being spherical and concentric with the axis aboutwhich the basket turns in its lateral movement, said ring O2 will havetrue bearing upon the basket, notwithstanding the shifting of the same,so that a tight joint will always be maintained between the basket andthe ring. It is entirely obvious that hot air introduced through thepipe O will be forced outwardly through the perforations of the basketand will act upon the clothing or other article therein in the samemanner as hereinbefore described. In said Fig. 6 I have shown a means ofpreventing the escape of air and steam from between the basket and t-headjacent upper margin of the casing A, constructed generally in the samemanner as the device for a similar purpose illustrated in Fig. l, andconsisting of an upper ring K, a lower ring K', a connecting flexiblestrip 7c', and springs 7c. In this instance, however, I have provided,in addition to the parts above named, a series of vertical bolts K2,engaged at their lower ends with the lower ring K', passing at theirupper ends through the casing A, and provided above the casing withthumb-nuts k2. Said lower ring K is conveniently provided with radialarms k3, Fig. 8,with which the said bolts are connected. By tighteningthe thumb-nuts k2 against the casing A the lower ring may be liftedclear from the basket, and by loosening said nuts allowed to press witha desired force thereon. The main purpose of thus lifting the lower ringis to enable the same to be freed from the basket during the time thelatter is being started and until it has gained its equilibrium and isturning steadily about its axis of rotation, after which the lower ringmay be allowed to fall lagainst the basket to make a tight jointtherewith. By thus lifting the lower ring the basket will be entirelyfree to seek its normal position in rotation without hinderance from itsfrictional contact with the ring. l

In Fig. '7 I have shown still another device for supplying air underpressure at the top of the machine. In this instance an air-supply ductP is provided with a sliding conical extension P', which, when lowered,rests in contact with the upper margin of the stationary casing A, asuitable packing p being usually employed to make an air-tight jointbetween the said parts. Vhen this construction is employed, I use adevice for closing the space between the top of the basket and the uppermargin of the casing A, that shown in the drawings consisting of rings KK', connecting a flexible strip 7c and springs k, operating in the samemanner as the correspending parts shown in Figs. l and 6..

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It is not essential .that the air-forcing devices should be employed toproduce an airpressure Within the basket of the extractor; but they maybe so applied as to exhaust the air from the space outside of thebasket. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 9, in which A is theexternal casing of a centrifugal machine, and B the basket thereof,Which latter is supported on a shaft C in the usual manner. Between thetop of the basket B and t-he upper casing A is arranged a device forpreventing the passage of air through said space, consisting of rings Kand K', a flexible strip k', and springs 7c, arranged and operating inthe same manner as before described. The opening in the bottom of thecasing A, through which the shaft C passes, is closed by means of aflexible filling-piece Q, attached to the margins of the casing and tothe shaft.

R is a pipe or duct connected with the inlet-opening of an exhaust-fanand communicating, by means of branch pipes r r r, with the space withinthe outer casing A exterior to the. basket B. Access of air to the saidcasing A being prevented excepting through the perforations of thebasket, it is entirely obvious that when the air is exhausted from thesaid casing through the ducts R r r a con tinuous current of air will bedrawn through or over the articles within the vsaid basket, therebydrying the same in the manner as heretofore described.

The particular mechanism shown embodies certain novel features ofconstruction in the details of the machine, which are also hereinclaimed as part of my invention.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination7 with al1-evolving perforatedbasket and its supporting-shaft, said basket being provided with anopening in its bottom, of a non-rotating easing surrounding the shaftand fitted to the latter and to the margins of the opening in the bottomof the basket, and a flexible air-duct connected with said casing,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a revolving perforated basket and itssupporting-shaft, of an air-duct communicating with the interior of thebasket and provided with inwardly andoutwardlyopeningrelief-valves,substantially as described.

3. The combination,.with a revolving perforated basket having a centralopening in its top and provided with a central shaft extending upwardlyfrom its bottom, of a disk ing surrounding the basket, the top yof thebasket having the form of a spherical segment, the center of whichcoincides with the center of universal movement of the shaft, and meansfor closing the space between the top of the basket and the casing.

5. The combination, with a revolving perforated basket, a shaft carryingthe same, mounted in a universal bearing at its lower end, and astationary casing surrounding the basket, the top of the basket havingthe form of a spherical segment, the center thereof coineidin g with thecenter of universal movement of the shaft, of a ring bearing against thetop of the basket and supported from the outer casing and a strip offlexible material connecting the ring with the casing.

6. The combination with a revolving ,er'

forated basket, a shaft carrying the same, mounted in a universalbearing at its lower end, and a stationary casing surrounding thebasket, the topof the basket having the form of a spherical segment, thecenter thereof coinciding with the center of universal movement of theshaft, of a ring in contact with the top of the basket andspring-supported from the outer casing and a strip of flexible materialconnecting the ring and the casing, substantially as described.

l 7. The combination, with the basket and a stationary easing, of a ringin contact with the top of the basket, a strip of flexible materialconnecting the ring with the casing,V

springs applied to press the ring against the basket, bolts engaged withthe ring and pass'- ing outwardly through the casing, and thumb- ICOnuts or equivalent means acting on the bolts to lift the ring fromcontact with the basket,

